Finding Aid for the Mary Benson Research Material about the African National Congress, South Africa LSC.0803
Finding aid prepared by Jesse Erickson with assistance from Megan Fraser in the Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT),
August 2011; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Online finding aid last updated 2011.
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Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Title: Mary Benson research material about the African National Congress, South Africa
Creator:
Benson, Mary
Identifier/Call Number: LSC.0803
Physical Description:
0.5 Linear Feet
(1 box)
Date (inclusive): 1961-1962
Abstract: A collection of research notes related to the South African political history and the African National Congress taken by political
activist, bureaucrat, and biographer, Mary Benson, during the course of her political career, 1940s to the mid 1960s.
Physical Location: Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright,
are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright
and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Mary Benson, April 19, 1963.
[Identification of item], Mary Benson research material about the African National Congress, South Africa (Collection Number
803). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Processed by Jesse Erickson with assistance from Megan Fraser in the Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT), August
2011.
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UCLA Catalog Record ID:
9942303703606533
Mary Benson was born on December 9, 1919 in Pretoria, South Africa. She attended school in Australia. After her studies, she
became secretary with British High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa from 1940 to 1941. She worked with the film director
David Lean in London from 1947 to 1949. Subsequently she became the co-founder and secretary of Africa Bureau, London from
the years 1950 to 1957. Benson lobbied in England and at the United Nations on South African issues and was active in the
African Development Trust and National Campaign for the Abolition of Capital Punishment. She was also a known activist against
apartheid. Benson left South Africa and became a political exile in London in 1966. Her publications include
Tshekedi Khama (1960),
Chief Albert Lutuli of South Africa (1963),
The African patriots: the story of the African National Congress of South Africa (1963),
At the still point (1970), and
Nelson Mandala (1980).
A collection of anti-apartheid activist Mary Benson's research notes covering a wide array of politically related topics from
the 1940s through the 1960s pertaining to African and South African government, civics, activists, and politicians. The formation
and delegation of the African National Congress is a central theme among the various topics. With the exception of the notes
found in the notebooks, most of the collection materials were typeset and include extensive annotations written throughout
the body of the works. The notes also include Benson's personal remarks and opinions on various African political figures,
and the annotations indicate sections from the notes that were ultimately disregarded, potentially drawn upon, or wholly included
in her subsequent publications.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Women authors -- South Africa -- Archives.
South Africa -- History.
South Africa -- Politics and government.
African National Congress
Benson, Mary--Archives.
box 1, folder 1
box 1, folder 2
box 1, folder 3
box 1, folder 4
box 1, folder 5
box 1, folder 6
box 1, folder 7